Royals Rumblings - News for March 18, 2019

Royals Rumblings - News for March 18, 2019

Lynn Worthy takes a look at the state of the farm system with Assistant GM J.J. Picollo.

Picollo downplayed the prospect rankings, both past and present. In fact, he’s used the 2011 ranking as example of how players get overlooked.

After all, neither Perez, Herrera nor Holland were top 100 selections, but went on to collect All-Star honors and Gold Gloves while others rated ahead of them aren’t in baseball or still haven’t had success in the majors.

“I will say it’s never something we talk to our staff about because these are our kids,” Picollo said. “This is what we have. It doesn’t matter what anybody says about them. Our job is to just to get them better, and if we get them better then we’re doing our job.”

Ryan O’Hearn wants to prove himself at first base this year.

O’Hearn also focused on his defense, which at times was shaky in 2018; particularly his throwing.

“Some throws, not all of them,” Yost noted. “The consistency wasn’t what you needed it to be to have an elite-like defense.”

O’Hearn has made numerous above-average plays this spring, whether it’s starting a 3-6-1 double play or the 3-1 exchange. He has also made several excellent scoops at first base.

All of that is important to a team such as the Royals, who put defense at a premium.

Homer Bailey felt good about his scoreless outing Saturday.

“Like we talked about last game, you see things that you’re doing that you could be doing better,” Bailey said. “That’s what we did, just addressed a few things with getting good results. That’s kind of what spring training is for, I would say.”

Rustin Dodd writes that Terrance Gore wants to be more than just a pinch-runner.

“I feel like some people think I am just a pinch runner or stuff like that — which I get,” Gore says. “That is one of my successful abilities, but I’ve been playing baseball since I was in tee ball. I’ve been playing the game forever.”

David Lesky warns there may be some downside with Martin Maldonado.

One area that concerns me a little bit, though, is the number of passed balls and wild pitches he allows. If you look at the leaderboards for passed balls last year, you see Gary Sanchez and Omar Narvaez up there with Maldonado who had 13, but also Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez, so maybe it’s not that big of a deal. I don’t really know. There are tons of wild pitches, though. He ranks second in baseball in wild pitches.

But he did do this in an intrasquad game.

The Royals trade pitcher Jason Adam to the Blue Jays for cash considerations.

The Royals express support for a sports gambling bill in the Missouri Legislature.

At Kings of Kauffman, Trevor Hooth writes that Kyle Zimmer has forced his way onto the roster.

Carlos Gonzalez signs a minor league deal with the Indians.

The A’s and Mariners prepare for Wednesday’s Opening Day in Japan.

The Yankees are working on a deal for pitcher Gio Gonzalez.

The Blue Jays will raise minor leagues wages by 50 percent.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch is suspended one game for arguing with umpire Angel Hernandez.

Jeff Samarzdija thinks there should be ties in baseball.

Former Royals reliever Peter Moylan will be playing with a Czech team this year.

Baker Mayfield visits Brewers camp and calls baseball his first love.

What players would benefit if the National League had a DH?

How Tiger Woods cost himself multiple shots by not using golf’s new rules.

The Bradley basketball team reduces access to a beat writer for not promoting the team brand.

Skyrocketing costs have caused some cities to stop recycling.

J.K. Rowling says that Dumbledore and Grindewald had an “intense” sexual relationship.’

Lilly Singh will get a late night show on NBC, becoming the only woman on network late night.

Your song of the day is Lyle Lovett with If I Had a Boat.